A Simple but Incredible Way to Reach Your Community and Grow

We gave each of our members attending a loaf of bread and asked them to give the bread to someone in their neighborhood or community.

I was blown away with the responses, both from the members and the recipients of the bread. Those who received the bread were incredibly grateful; many came to our church the next Sunday. And our members were very encouraged by the responses. It helped them to see the fields are truly ready for a harvest.

So, I began to think. Could I leverage my position at LifeWay to help thousands of churches do the same? The answer came back as a resounding “yes”! Allow me to share with you my thoughts.

I have authorized LifeWay to give away thousands, even tens of thousands, of Bibles to members of churches. We will be giving away the Bread of Life instead of the bread in loaves.

Those churches need to be within about 15 miles of a LifeWay store, so the members can go pick up a free Bible. Without the investment of the members taking the time to go to a store, their commitment level for this endeavor will be low.

Each church will have a designated week at a local LifeWay store for its members to get their free Bibles.

The members will then give the Bible away in their neighborhoods or community and invite the recipient to church.

We will provide specific instructions and promotional materials for this Bible outreach ministry for every church that participates. It will be undergirded by the power of prayer and activated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many churches have already signed on for this endeavor. One of the pastors asked me how LifeWay could afford to give away so many Bibles. I simply told him I was trusting God to provide. I have little doubt God will honor a ministry that gets His Word into the community and provides opportunities for powerful gospel conversations.

I have to say, this ministry is one of the most exciting endeavors I have led in the 13 years I’ve been at LifeWay. Even more, I am incredibly excited about how God will use this ministry to impact both churches and their communities.

Let’s get the Word into our communities. Let’s invite people to our churches. Let’s have gospel conversations. Let’s see what God Himself will do as we are truly Great Commission obedient.

Comments

I was not saved until 53 years old. I immediately started attending Richland Hills Baptist Church in Richland Hills, TX where I stayed for approximately 17 years. I have spent some time in the surrounding neighborhoods over time attempting to share the gospel. There is probably a few where He is working. But for the most part it is most difficult and very unrewarding to say the least. And I really don’t think the loaf of bread thing will make much of a difference. Maybe you would like to come down here and give it a try. My experiences show for the most part, they really don’t have a clue or want one. Gods word speaks to this. Most will not and refuse to listen. My own brother told my sister that I talk about Jesus 27/7. But that is not really the truth. He refuses to dialog with me. He is angry.
Likewise for most of thes folks in these neighborhoods. They have no time for it.

I understand you are part of Lifeway, which I have been studying for years. (Exploring The Bible and The Present Word) These folks do a great job writing these publications.

But for the most part even in the church people don’t really seem to fully grasp what this is about. Scary! We will keep preserving. Wayne

Wayne,
Perservere. It is true that not everyone is hungry. Yet a Bible in the hand gives comfort and the Word eaten brings change to the heart.
Indeed you state you were not hungry until age 53.. but you eventually took your place at His table.
We set the table, invite the world and the LORD brings each one He has called to come and dine.
Be encouraged, set the table.

Research: Misery loves company; but furthermore, misery loves miserable company–but even more: misery loves experienced miserable company. A copy of God’s Written Word delivered by a Christian willing to share who he was, what happened, and who he is now in Christ (i.e., experienced miserable company) equates to a powerful team. LifeWay’s approach can appeal especially to those Christians to whom God has given the Invitational Style and the Confrontational Style of evangelism (to the others of us, this approach can feel threatening–like the experience of a square peg being forced into a round hold; it can be gotten in there, but the peg and the hole never will be the same again).

Equally important: What a church does to KEEP the fold reached via this or any other approach (congregations not organizationally healthy and functional might need to get that way first, and then use this approach).

I was one of those living in a suburb that never heard of who Jesus was, let alone made any sort of difference to me. Although I later recognized I was surrounded by Christians in my sphere of relationships, not a single one EVER told me about their faith. It wasn’t until I darkened the door of a church where I discovered that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead, and that I can be saved through faith in Christ alone.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment that no one has the time or will care. Your brother may be angry, but there are many others who are silently wishing–desperate even–as I was, for something to believe in. We never know what God will do with a seed planted in the heart and mind of someone who may not recognize their need right now.

May the Lord turn your faithfulness into joy and may you get to see in THIS life the fruit you are bearing.

I’d like to encourage this movement to get the Word out into my community.

To be honest the church people have become apathetic to the point of inevitable death of the church. Peoples hearts have become hard. The people in the neighborhood do not fit the profile of who they would want to invite or associate with. They know the gospel but have forgotten who Jesus is! Jesus was the ‘undesirable’ in His day. With that said, I applaud Thom for effecting a ministry that provides for the direct need in the community, bread! What I have learned ministering one on one in my community is the most effective way of getting your foot in the door is by meeting a need and authentically caring about individuals. For example: When you see a homeless person sitting close to a subway, buy him a sandwich and sit down with him and talk to him. My motto (sort of) is provide for a need and then tell them Who it is that is providing for that need – Jesus! Thom, love the ideas! I would say, though, bring the bread AND the Bible and give together. Don’t just say here is some bread and a bible. Inquire about them, be authentic! And seek to meet a need! Remember it is Jesus who is meeting their need through us! Read James 2:14-17.

I love the idea and pray that it will produce much fruit. Obviously, rural churches such as my own won’t be able to participate. We are certainly more than 15 miles from our nearest Lifeway Store. it will spur my thinking, however, as we consider how we might creatively invite our friends and neighbors to attend worship. Thanks.

Wayne don’t giv up you will plant a seed that may not be harvested for a time but every thing you do for the Lord counts keep working for him we may never see our fruit but someone else may get to harvest it God Bless

Thom you have given me another great way to get our people to go out for Jesus. We buy Bibles for the prison ministry we are involved in so why not do it for outreach. We get the Bibles for around a $1 each from some online place. If Lifeway could make this happen with them we would rather give to you than someone we don’t know. Either way we might do “the Bread of Life” giveaway.

I love this idea of giving a loaf of bread to a neighbor. I live in a rural city about 70 miles from a Lifeway store, but I’m sure that we can find a source for Bible giveaways as well as on a high attendance Sunday the giving out of a loaf of bread to our neighbors is a wonderful idea. Sometimes the simplest acts gather the most good.
I am a retired pastor (Which doesn’t mean anything) but I am also active in my home church that ordained me to the ministry.

Thanks Thom for your vision.
I remember serving a church in Waco in the late 80s. We did the “Here’s Hope America” revival and leading up to that we passed out the “Here’s Hope” Lifeway New Testaments in a door-to-door visitation campaign one Sunday afternoon. It was a great experience for our little church to see God move our people our into the fields and to see God bringing in the harvest.

Hi Thom. Love the idea, but our reality is that of some of the previous posters: we’re rural and at least a 100 miles from a Lifeway store (I checked!). May the Lord be wisdom in helping us boonie guys, too! Blessings to you!

I’m in a rural area, too, but Dr. Rainer said they’re working on a “Plan B” for churches in our situation. I look forward to hearing it. In the meantime, there are quite a few places that sell Bibles pretty cheap. I’m going to look into it.

FYI
At a former church plant we went door to door, invited people to check out our church and gave them a package of 2-lightbulbs. The package had a couple scriptures plus church times and address, and other contact info. A year after the invitation was given one man got out a replacement bulb, read the box and with another invite from a friend started attending the church. Soon after he was playing his guitar with the worship band. Some may like bread, others may like light bulbs. Brainstorm what will work for your area.
We’ve done free car washes in the past, refusing to take donations, just wanting to show people God’s love in a practical way and letting them know what church we were from.

This is amazing! I am thankful to the Lord for you. What a powerful way to multiply ministry across the nation! I truly believe this will help the church I pastor and others in the journey to become increasingly outward focused. Thanks for listening to the Spirit of God and doing what you can to help the body of Christ! You are appreciated!

Dr. Ranier, love your heart for reaching the masses with the Word and trust the Lord will greatly multiply (and magnify) this outreach.
I am an Associational Missionary for a very active group of 34 churches. Sadly, none are located close to a Lifeway Store. However, it has long been the practice of our A.M.’s to travel to Little Rock , AR to pick up orders for our churches if so desire. We consider this a ministry to the church and don’t mind at all.

Don’t usually reply to many online posts but thought working with the SBC Associations on this endeavor might be one possible way to get more of these bibles in the hands of more of our church members.

God bless you, this newest ministry, all that LifeWay does for the Kingdom